George H. Bruen was born October 26, 1856, in Penn Yan, New York, and married Jennie O'Neill, daughter of Colonel James O'Neill. Colonel O'Neill arrived in Webb City three years after its founding and was responsible for its waterworks, gas lines, and many other things; he was half owner of the Webb City Ice Plant and built the Newland Hotel, the most influential hotel in the area. George Bruen served as Colonel O'Neill's right-hand man in all of O'Neill's business ventures and was secretary of the Webb City Waterworks. George and Jennie had two children, James O'Neill Bruen and George H. Bruen, and they built the house in 1900. Jennie Bruen died April 14, 1930, and George Bruen died shortly thereafter on August 5, 1930.